MOSTLY MONTREAL, MOST OF THE TIME

Blue pickup

I tried some new paper today. This sketch was done on a block of Fabriano cold press paper, 5″ x 7″. Last week I tried the bigger hot press block which is great when you have lots of line work but I wanted a rougher paper that would carry a large wash. It is a beautiful paper, the colour is more saturated than on the hot press and I can still draw on it with a pen. I have also been trying out a new ink colour — instead of black I am trying grey in my pen. It’s a little darker than a pencil line but not as dark as the black.

That is very kind of you to say. That was an elaborate drawing, this one is so strong in its to the point simplicity.
BTW I think the grey lines work very well here. I love that tone, I use it all the time.

Looks like you were out at the college/ farm again Shari and it’s amazing how you can take
such a simple subject and make such a lively juxtaposition of shapes and colours into a
super little watercolour :) Did you use liquid grey ink and if so why didn’t it bleed?
Or, maybe you used a grey micron fine liner? You sound just as happy with the surface of the Fabriano cold press for drawing but more happy with the way it received the paint.
Did you use a block of Fabriano from de Serres? Thanks so much.

I was out at the college Mary. This new ink that I have in my Lamy pen does not bleed, happily. It is Noodler’s ink in Lexington grey. I am much happier with the way this paper takes the paint. And this is also from de Serres.

Thanks Shari. If you wanted a loose, free drawing with bleeding would the Noodler’s ink not
bleed on freshly wet paper like India ink does with the Speedball nib? Have you used both? Do they have the Lamy pen and Noodler’s ink in Montreal? Sorry to bother you with all these questions.

Mary, I’ve never tried either of those. You can get the pen and ink at Stylo downtown in the basement of the Simon’s building, just near the food court. Call ahead because they had the ink at the Laval store and they had to bring it downtown for me.